Winding-switch for self-winding clocks.



E. A. HUMMEL. WINDING SWITCH FOR SELF WINDING CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. I9I4.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\A/ITHQSSQB E. A. HUMMEL.

WINDING SWITCH FOR SELF WINDING CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. 1914.

1,157,782. Patented Oct.26,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

\A/lffl25585 Invenfor JZHQST A Hummd COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,, WASHINGTON, z). c.

ERNEST A. I-I'UIvIMEL, OF ST. PAUL, IvIINNESO'I-A,

ASSIGNOR- T0 ALBERT L. I-IAMAN, OF

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

WINDING-SWITCH FOR SELF-WINDING CLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

Application filed June 30, 1914. Serial No. 848,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST A. HUMMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in finding-Switches for Self-finding Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in winding switches for so-called self-winding clocks, that is electrically wound clocks wherein the rewinding takes place automatically at predetermined intervals, usually every hour. In such clocks the rewinding instrumentalities are energized by means of an electric circuit in which is interposed a time switch under the control of the clockwork mechanism itself. The switch commonly used comprises two spring contacts, one of which is moved into contact with the other by the arbor of. the center wheel, and is preferably so constructed and connected that the electric circuit will not pass through any of the hearings or moving parts of the clock, so that the flow of the current will not be obstructed by accumulations of dirt, oil, and gum around the center arbor and train pivots.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a switch of that character which shall be opened and closed with a sudden, quick snap, so that the contacts shall have at all times a firm, non-vibrating, non-trembling contact, thus insuring the continuous and exact performance of the winding operation at and throughout the predetermined time of its operation.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side view of the lower part of the clock seen. from the side of the center winding wheel with some parts broken away to show the structure; Fig. 2 is a top view thereof without the winding mechanism or train of gears; Fig. 3 is a side view of a fragment of the lower art of a clock seen from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1, with the main wheel and winding drum removed, and

the center winding wheel partly broken away; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are side views of the switch proper and its operating cams shown in different positions assumed by them in the turning of the wheels.

i In the drawings A represents a clockirame in which is JOJIIlZIlGCl the arbor 2 of the main or center wheel 3. Upon this arbor is revolubly sleeved the center winding wheel 4 which carries the spring barrel 5. Also revolubly sleeved upon the arbor is a plate or so-called center winding contact piece 6, having on one side of the arbor a pin 7 projecting laterally toward the winding wheel and on the other side a pair of segmental shaped cams 8 and 9, arranged in different but parallel vertical planes, the cam 8 extending radially beyond the cam 9. Fast upon the arbor 2 is a radially extending pin or bar 10, in position, in the usual revolu tion of the arbor, to engage the pin 7 upon the center winding contact piece 6 and turn this piece around with it. Also loosely sleeved upon the arbor adjacent to the winding wheel l is a radially extending arm or knock-away piece 11 in position to be engaged and turned by a pin 12 projecting outwardly from the winding wheel 4-. In order that the cams 8 and 9 may be moved in unison by the arbor pin 10, they are preferably made integral or connected rigidly with each other, and provided with a common pin 7, as shown in the drawings. The purpose of these cam faces is to lift the respective spring contact leaves of the winding switch as hereinafter described. The upper or center winding contact spring 13 is secured to a stud 14- upon an insulated binding post 15 upon the frame, while the lower or plate contact spring 16 is secured directly upon the frame'plate by means of a non-insulated stud 17. The lower contact spring 16 is arranged in the same plane as the larger cam 8, with its free end in position to be engaged by this cam when the center winding contact piece 6 is turned by the arbor in its revolution. The upper contact spring 13 lies in the same *ertical plane as the spring 16, but has on its outer side a downwardly extending offset finger 18 in position to be engaged and lifted by the smaller cam 9 when the contact piece 6 is turned. To insure more perfect action the outer end of the plate contact leaf 16 is bent or inclined downwardly and the forward ends of both cams are also beveled off, as shown. On its upper face the contact leaf 16 is provided with a platinum contact piece or anvil 19 in position to receive the blow of the downwardly inclined end of the contact leaf 13 when this leaf is released and springs down to close the switch, as shown in Fig. 5.

The switch contacts 13 and 16 are in circuit with an electromagnet B having a vibrating armature 20 by which the winding instrumentalities are actuated. The circuit leads from the binding post 15 through a battery or other source of current supply C to an insulated binding post 21 upon the frame. To this binding post is connected one end of the magnet wire 22, while the other end of the wire is connected to an insulated stud "23 upon the frame. From this stud it passes through the spiral contact spring 2% to the plate contact spring 25, and thence through the movement plate to the plate contact leaf 16 of the winding switch, and from there through the leaf 13 back to the battery.

The winding apparatus may be of any kind well known in the art, and as it forms no part of the present invention it is unnecessary to describe such apparatus specifically. It will sufiice to say, that, as here shown, the armature 20 is provided with a pin 26 which works within the lower slotted end of a pendant oscillating winding lever '27. This lever is provided with a pawl 28 which engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 29 and thereby turns the wheel. This ratchet wheel is operatively connected by suitable gearing (not shown) with the center winding wheel 4. I

The operation is as follows: The spring contact leaves 13 and 16 stand normally sprung down out of contact with each other as shown in Fig. 6. In this position the switch will be open and no current will pass through the rewinding motor. As the train of gears revolves in the operation of the clockwork the pin 10 upon the center arbor, in its revolution, will engage the pin 7 of the center winding contact piece 6 and carry this piece slowly around until the cam 9 engages the finger 18. In the further turning of the piece 6 the cam 9 will wipe and push up the finger 18 and thereby lift the upper contact spring 13, while the cam 8 will. lift the lower contact spring 16, as shown in Fig. a of the drawings, the cams being preferably so arranged as to begin to lift the upper contact spring 13 a little in advance of the lower contact spring 16, so as to avoid premature closing of the switch. As the arbor continues to turn, the cam 9, which has a shorter face than the cam 8, will pass the finger 18 while the lower spring 16 isstill uplifted by the cam 8, whereupon the upper spring 13 will spring down with a quick snap upon the contact plate 19 upon the still raised lower spring 16, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby closing the switch suddenly with a firm, non-vibrating contact. As soon as the switch is thus closed, the electric circuit will be energized and will cause the vibrating armature 20 to set in motion the winding instrumentalities and turn the center winding wheel 1 to wind up the main spring, the loosely mounted piece 6 being held from dropping forward by the frictional pressure of the spring 16. As the winding wheel turns, its pin 12 will engage the knock-away piece 11 and turn it on the arbor until finally the knockaway piece strikes the pin 7 upon the center winding contact piece, when it will. carry this piece with it so as to push the cam 8 from under the contact spring 16, and allow this contact spring to spring down away from the upper contact spring and thereby break the circuit, as shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the rewinding will cease. The frictional pressure of the spring 16 will keep the center winding piece in engagement with the spring until it is pushed forward by the knock-away piece 11 upon the completion of the winding.

In the structure shown in the drawings the rewinding will occur once in each revolution of the main wheel, and the rewinding will continue until the winding wheel has been turned through one revolution.

It will be understood that the center arbor revolves very slowly in the normal running of the clock, so that if the switch were to be closed by the gradual lifting of the lower spring into contact with the upper spring, there would be at first a trembling, uncertain and imperfect contact with resulting irregularity in the operation of the winding apparatus. But by arranging to have the upperspring lifted at the same time as the lower spring and then suddenly released and allowed to spring down upon the lower spring, the switch is closed with a quick snap and a firm non-trembling contact, the end of the upper spring being bent down to assist in making the contact quick and firm.

While I prefer to arrange the spring con- .tacts so that they will stand one above'the other near the top of the arbor-driven movement of the cams, yet I do not wish to be understood by any specific words of position or direction used for convenience in the specification and claims as limiting myself to such an arrangement. For instance I have used the term lifting as a convenient characterization of the cam driven outward movement of the contacts against the tension of their springs, whether such movement be up or down.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric self winding clock, the

combination with the center arbor, of an electric winding circuit, a winding switch in said circuit comprising a pair of cooperating spring contacts normally out of con tact with each other, and means controlled by the arbor for periodically lifting both of said contacts in such way as to keep them out of contact with each other and then suddenly releasing the outer contact, whereby to allow the same to spring back upon the inner contact and close the winding circuit through said switch.

2. In an electric self winding clock, the combination with the center arbor, of an electric winding circuit, a winding switch in said circuit comprising a pair of spring con tacts normally out of contact with each other, and a pair of arbor actuated cams periodically engaging and lifting said contacts respectively in such way as to keep them out of contact with each other, the cams being so constructed as to release the outer contact before releasing the inner contact, whereby to allow the outer contact to spring back upon the inner contact and close the winding circuit through said switch.

3. In an electric self winding clock, the combination with a center arbor and spring winding wheel, of an electric winding circuit, a winding switch in said circuit comprising a pair of cooperating spring contacts normally out of contact with each other, means controlled by the arbor for periodically lifting both of said contacts in such way as to keep them out of contact with each other and then suddenly releasing the outer contact, whereby to allow said contact to spring back upon the inner contact and close the circuit through said switch, and means controlled by the winding wheel for releasin the inner contact after the spring has been wound, whereby to allow the inner contact to spring back and open the switch.

at. In an electric self-winding clock, the combination with the center arbor and spring winding wheel, of an electric winding circuit. a winding switch in said circuit comprising a pair of spring contacts normally out of contact with each other, a pair of arbor actuated. cams periodically engaging and lifting said contacts respectively in such way as to keep them out of contact with each other, the cams being so constructed as to release the outer contact before the inner contact is released, whereby to allow the outer contact to spring back upon the inner contact and close the winding circuit through said switch, and means controlled by the winding wheel for releasing the inner contact after the spring has been wound, whereby to allow the inner contact to spring back and open the switch.

5. In an electric self-winding clock, the

combination with the center arbor, of an electric winding circuit, a winding switch in said circuit comprising a pair of spring contacts standing in substantially the same vertical plane and normally out of contact with each other, a finger extending downwardly from the outer contact, and a pair of arbor actuated cams in position to engage respectively the inner contact and the finger of the outer contact, whereby to lift said contacts in substantial unison, the cams being so constructed as to release said finger before releasing the inner contact, whereby to allow the outer contact to spring back upon the inner contact and close the winding circuit through said switch.

6. In an electric self winding clock, the combination with the center arbor and spring winding wheel, of an electric winding circuit, a winding switch in said circuit comprising a pair of contact springs normally out of contact with each other, a pair of cams sleeved upon said arbor and adapted, when turned, to engage and lift said contact springs respectively so as to keep them out of contact with each other, and then to release first the outer contact and then the inner contact, whereby to allow the outer contact to spring back upon the inner contact in order to close the winding circuit through said switch, and then to allow the inner contact to spring away from the outer contact to open said circuit, a pin carried by the arbor in position to engage and turn said cams periodically in the normal running of the clock whereby to cause said cams to lift said contacts and then to release said outer contact, as stated, and means actuated by the winding wheel for knocking the cam engaging the inner contact away from said contact after the spring has bee wound, whereby to open the circuit.

7. In an electric self winding clock, the combination with the center arbor and sp'ing winding wheel, of an electric winding circuit, a winding switch in said circuit comprising a pair of contact springs normally out of contact with each other, a pair of cams sleeved upon said arbor and uni.- tary with each other, said cams being adapted, when turned, to lift said contact springs, respectively, so as to keep them out of contact with each other, and then to release first the outer contact and then the inner contact, whereby to allow the outer contact to spring back upon the inner contact in order to close the winding circuit through said switch, and then to allow the inner contact to spring away from the outer contact to open said circuit, a pin ca "ried by the arbor in position periodically to en 'age and turn said cams in the normal running of the clock in order to cause said cams to lift said contacts and then to release said outer contact as stated, a knockaway piece sleeved upon the arbor in position to engage said cams, In testimony whereof I affix my signsa pm earned by the Winding Wheel in pos1- ture 1n presence of two wltnesses.

tion to en a e the knookaway ieoe and 1 move it ag in st said cams after t he spring ERNEST HUTVIMEL' has been Wound, whereby to knock the cam Witnesses:

engaging the inner Contact away from said H. SWANsoN,

contact and open the switch. ARTHUR P. LOTHROP.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

